The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh - Book Review

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Publication Date: 22nd Feb 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy, Retelling 

3.75 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining; suitable for young teens as well 

Mina’s homeland has been suffering from storms, floods, and losses for years. Every year, they choose the most beautiful girl and offer her as the Sea God’s Bride. Myth has it that the true bride will get the Sea God to fall in love and save the village. 

That year, it was Shim Cheong’s turn. But Mina knows that her brother Joon and Shim love each other. She doesn’t want them to go through heartbreak and decides to offer herself as the Sea God’s Bride.

The trouble, however, is that Mina is still sixteen (the brides have to be eighteen) and doesn’t particularly possess any special talents or beauty (according to others). Moreover, her entry into the underwater realm unleashes chaos, and the Sea God is not who she thought he’d be. 

Matters are further complicated when Mina meets the mysterious Lord Shin and realizes she has to choose. Her decision could save her family and villagers. But she’s not sure of anything yet. How can Mina break the curse when there are too many immortals willing to do anything to prevent her, especially when a mortal like her can’t live in the land of spirits for long? 

What I Like: 

• Retellings are tricky, but this one works well. I read a summary of the original before starting the book. It helped a lot. 
• The descriptions of the underwater world are beautiful. I had no problem visualizing the setting.
• Side characters like Mask, Dai, Namgi, and Kirin were interesting. I enjoyed Mina’s interaction with them.
• The aspect of storytelling plays a major role in the book. The grandmother’s role was heartwarming. What are we if not for the stories we make and share! 
• The blurb calls it a feminist retelling, and the story does justice to it. Mina is the hero of the book, without demeaning other male characters.  

What Could Have Been Better: 

• I know this is a YA book, but the pacing is uneven and bumpy. Even the writing is a little all over the place. The ARC is an uncorrected proof copy, so I hope these issues would have been ironed out to an extent in the final copy. 
• There is some character development, but we still don’t fully know Mina, the Sea God, or Shin. The pacing needed to be better to let Mina bloom and grow (despite the limitations). 
• I’m not sure if there is romance. There seems to be some, but it’s not explored. Yeah, the characters are teens, I know. That doesn’t mean they can’t interact or have conversations to establish their relationship. Most of it was ‘read between the lines’ or implied and left to the readers to assume. The declaration of love seemed a little abrupt, though we know it’s inevitable. 

To sum up, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enjoyable retelling with some good moments. Go with low expectations, and you’ll enjoy it more. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley 

The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - Book Review

The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles

Heaven's Cove Book #3 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 28th Feb 2022

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming  

*****

Freya arrives in Heavens Cove looking for a fresh start. It’s not easy at thirty-nine when she is still recovering from her broken marriage and the sadness of losing a job she loved. 

Belinda is a force to reckon with in Heavens Cove. While she keeps things up to date in the small town, her love for gossip and lack of tact make everyone wary of her. It doesn’t help that Freya happens to be Belinda’s half-sister. She’s desperate to get away, and Belinda promised her an escape. 

Kathleen is now eighty but can never forget the pain of her past. The Driftwood House has memories she can’t let go of, and hiding the past for so long has been a burden.

Freya becomes a temporary caregiver to Kathleen and stays at home, thanks to Belinda. Of course, Kathleen’s son, Ryan, is annoyed by the arrangement. He and his pre-teen daughter Chloe moved to the town after his wife’s death in an accident. He is torn between caring for his aging mother, earning an income, and trying to deal with a confused 12yo. 

After a few hits and misses, they all seem to get together. Kathleen easily warms up to Freya and shares her long-buried secret. Freya knows she needs to help Kathleen. But she also worries about keeping the secret from Ryan. 

What happened back then to Kathleen? How does it impact the future? Can Freya and Ryan get another chance at a happy relationship? How can Chloe decide what’s best for her and be an assertive not-so-little girl? 

My Observations: 

• Like the previous two books in the series, this one has recurring characters but can be read as a standalone (I forgot most of them anyway). 
• The writing flows well and keeps the momentum going. 
• There are a couple of mandatory vampish characters. No pretense. You see what you get. Pretty much in line with the checklist. 
• The leading women are likable and sweet. Kathleen is gritty, vulnerable, and a typical eighty-year-old. Freya is slightly more vulnerable but is assertive enough in her calm way. 
• The story alters between Freya, Ryan, and Chloe’s limited third-person POVs. This gives us a good glimpse into the confused state of Chloe. I felt sorry for the poor girl. 
• Quite a few miscommunications and misunderstandings happen throughout the book. The saving grace is that none are left too long or stretched. The characters talk and resolve it in a couple of chapters. That’s a relief. 
• The book also deals with the Magdalene Laundries-type of the house for unwed pregnant girls. Though it doesn’t take the primary space in the book, it is an integral part of the story. It is yet another reminder of the double standards of society.
• Having read the previous two books in the series, I felt this one was much better written and had stronger narration. Though there are some expected tropes, the story doesn’t drag or feel boring at any time. 

To sum up, The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming story of second chances and building family relationships. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#TheGirlattheLastHouseBeforetheSeaHeavensCoveBook3 #NetGalley 

Disappeared by Laura Jarratt - Book Review

Disappeared by Laura Jarratt

Publication Date: 17th Feb 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Family Drama 

4.2 Stars 

One-Liner: Gripping, emotional, and fast-paced

*****

Cerys leaves her family one day and vows never to return. She sets the car ablaze after reaching the hillside that was her home. But she realizes that life has other plans for her as she meets Lily and Sammy, Lily’s four-year-old. 

Lily is running from her life and is desperate to keep her child safe. Bogged down by insecurities and vulnerabilities, she finds comfort and strength in Cerys. The two women forge a bond and have a fresh start in a small Welsh town. They still have their secrets and cannot reveal them. 

Moreover, the past is never behind. They know they can’t ignore it for long. Sooner or later, their pasts will catch up with them. Are Cerys and Lily strong enough to face the past and build new lives? What do they have to sacrifice in return? 

My Observations: 

• The story is fast-paced even when it moves between characters and their pasts. The story is told in limited third person POV of both the women, Cerys and Lily. This gives us enough info into their thoughts and background. 
• Cerys and Lily are vulnerable and likable. I could empathize with their situations and kept rooting for them. Lily, in particular, had my heart, poor girl. 
• The side characters like Dilys and Gavin were just as interesting. While Kate and Matt were pretty much one-dimensional, they served the purpose. 
• Dilys is a favorite. I like independent, grumpy old characters with a wise head and a soft heart. They are the best. Dilys added a lot of warmth and depth to the story. 
• Danny is your typical narcissist. While I’m glad that his brutality wasn’t explicitly described, I did want to see more of his dark side. The manipulations could’ve been shown better. 
• Rhys’ track seemed a little too quick given what Lily went through. I’d have liked it more if the pacing was slower for this. 
• The bonding between Cerys, Lily, Dilys, and Sammy is beautiful to read. It feels real and tangible. This is probably the highlight of the book. 
• While some of their decisions don’t make sense, I could empathize with them and understand their reasons. Moreover, I didn’t have to linger on it for long, thanks to the steady pace. 
• The book ends on a happy note, which is always a plus for me. My only grouse is that I couldn’t know what happened to Danny. I so wanted him to suffer (a lot). 

The book is marked as women’s fiction but has the word ‘thriller’ in the blurb. It’s more of a drama with some elements of thriller included. Luckily for me, it worked out because I liked the main characters. 

My ARC seemed like an uncorrected proof copy, though it doesn’t say that anywhere. The formatting was haywire and made it hard to understand the sudden shifts in POV, past, and present. I hope the final copy has the necessary formatting to make this easier. 

To sum up, Disappeared is an emotional and gripping story about two women who find each other in odd circumstances and build a strong bond. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#Disappeared #NetGalley

A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth Bass - Book Review

A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth Bass

Publication Date: 25th Jan 2022
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining, light-hearted, and fun. 

*****

Gwen comes from a family of witches. However, her family is forbidden from dabbling in magic and witchcraft. More than a century ago, her ancestor’s witchcraft created a catastrophic mess. The Grand Council of Witches punished the family by preventing them to perform magic for the next 150 years. 

Gwen, Turdy, and Milo are more or less settled their relationships (or so they think). They are content to not attract the Watchers or the Council by publicly using magic for personal gain. All is well… until it isn’t. 

What’s life without some magic, even if it causes more headache than relief? How can things be well with Tannith, the self-declared princess of Zenobia and the mean-spirited cousin of the family?

When Gwen receives Tannith’s letter about leaving Zenobia and moving to New York (but with a guy she charmed from one of the cousins), she begins to doubt if her relationship had survived or if her man, Daniel met the same fate as her previous dates (by succumbing to Tannith’s charm). 

She meets Turdy and Milo to realize that things aren’t better for them. Turdy is evasive about Lardy, her husband. Milo isn’t too sure about Bert’s intentions either. Moreover, it appears that Turdy managed to unleash the inner witch in her and has no idea how to control it. 

The appearance of Jeremy and his presence make Gwen wary for multiple reasons. He could be a Watcher, after all. Her sudden feelings for him don’t make sense either. She’s happy with Daniel, isn’t she? 

What follows next is as messy as leaving a bunch of novice students in a chemistry lab. Can the cousins save the day and streamline their lives in the process? 

• The book turned out to be exactly what I wanted. It’s silly, crazy, quirky, and even a little absurd. But it’s fast-paced and super fun. I like contemporary witchy books that are light on the mind and don’t demand too much attention.  
• Gwen has many shades of the typical millennial and annoyed me at times. But since the story moves fast, she had no choice but to go with the flow and make faster decisions. 
• The family dynamics were warm and cozy. Aunt Esme’s sharp sentences were a good contrast o balance the excess warmth of Gwen’s parents. (I’m looking forward to reading more about Aunt Esme).
• My favorite characters, of course, are Tannith and Griz (the black cat). That’s because these two have loads of potential with multiple layers. But I wasn’t looking for character development in this one, so I enjoyed the story without feeling a connection to any character. 
• The romantic tracks also progressed too fast, but hey, we need a happy ever after. The book’s ending is just right for a sequel. I hope the author is drafting it already. 
• My only rouse is that magic didn’t play as big a role as expected. I wanted more spells, more magic, and more witchcraft.  

To sum up, A Letter to Three Witches is a light-hearted and entertaining read. Don’t look for logic or multilayered characters. Go with the flow and enjoy the funny moments. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#ALettertoThreeWitches #NetGalley

Eight by Poornima Manco - Book Review

Eight - Fantastical Tales From Here, There & Everywhere by Poornima Manco

Genre: Fantasy, Magic Realism, Short Stories 

4 Stars 

One Liner: An enjoyable collection of eight stories from around the world. 

*****

Eight is a collection of eight stories with hints of magic, the afterlife, and otherworldly presence in each story. The non-human characters steer the stories in one way or another and create a beautiful reading experience. 

Here’s a quote I loved before we see a glimpse of the stories. It aligns with what I believe about the present and the future. 

“Look at the future with one eye firmly fixed on the past. Everything is cyclical. It comes around again and again, and if you are perceptive enough, you will recognize the patterns.” 

***** 

Stories Listed as Per the Order of the Book

The Invisible Suitcase (France): Similar to dark chocolate- bittersweet and soulful. 

Osterhase (Germany): Stefan’s life journey from being a boy to a man (it sure wasn’t easy for him). 

The Butterfly Effect (Argentina): Mariposa cannot run away from Tango, no matter how much she hates it. 

New Year, New You (Egypt): A soul that transcends over generations and decides to share his story at last. 

Idol (South Korea): The world of K-Pop is much more than the fans and aspirants see. The best in the book. 

The Perfect Wife (Hong Kong): A 50+ billionaire quest for the perfect woman gives him more than he bargained for. 

Lala Lakshmi (India): This Diwali will change Lakshmi Chand forever, and he knows to be grateful for it. 

A Thank You Would Be Nice (USA): Elaine, a 60-something flight purser knows how to deal with rude and thankless passengers, and it’s not what you think. 

The stories are diverse enough to keep us interested from start to finish. The book has a few misses, too but gives a good impression overall. The cover is fondant on the cake (pun intended); perfect for the book. 

P.S: Can’t help but wonder about the choice of countries. A majority of them stand out for being ‘exotic’. ;) 

I received a complimentary copy of the book from BookSirens. 

The Dust Bowl Orphans by Suzette D. Harrison - Book Review

The Dust Bowl Orphans by Suzette D. Harrison

Publication Date: 7th Feb 2022

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Dual Timeline, Women of Color, The Great Depression

4.2 Stars

One Liner: A compelling read about a girl’s determination to save her family. 

Oklahoma, 1935: A fifteen-year-old Faith and her five-year-old sister Hope are on their way to California with their parents and brother. However, a black blizzard separates them from the parents. They somehow manage to reach California but realize that things have taken a turn for worse. Being black in a white country is always a risk. 

After countless adventures, tricky situations, and nights with empty stomachs, the sisters seem to have found hope. But can they trust the woman to help them? Does she have a sinister plan for the sisters?  

California, Present Time: Zoe has been a museum and art curator for almost all her life. She is no stranger to racism and prejudice. It’s no wonder that she plans an art exhibition to promote black and marginalized artists.

When her work brings her in touch with someone who shares an old picture, Zoe feels her world spinning beyond control. Grieving the loss of her child and marriage are no match for the sudden urge that fills her to trace her roots. Why did a child from the old photograph look exactly like her? How are the two of them related across generations? 

With almost no trial to follow, Zoe stumbles ahead, guided by her determination and maybe a little help from the other world. Can Zoe find the truth of what happened all those decades ago? How will her discovery change her future? 

What I Like:

• Faith and Zoe are strong in their own way. That made both tracks equally good, though I liked the historical one a tad more. 

• Family plays a vital role throughout the book. It's the central theme. 

• The characters are quite realistic with strengths and weaknesses. I could understand their decisions to a great extent. 

• The story deals with racism without being preachy or over the top. Not surprising since the book is by an African-American woman. Doesn’t get authentic than this. 

• Religion plays multiple roles in the book. One, as a way to expose the ultra-orthodox rigidities, and another to support the lead characters when things go wrong. 

• There’s some otherworldly stuff in the book. I wasn’t sure how it would work. However, it came together better than I expected. (Still, it’s not for everyone.) 

• The second half of the epilogue was a pleasant surprise. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

• The writing was heavy and slow in the first half. Even if it sets the stage, some adjectives and adverbs could go from the historical track. 

• A few things seemed too coincidental towards the end. But I was ready to wrap up by then and didn’t mind the ease with which everything was streamlined and presented. 

To sum up, The Dust Bowl Orphans is a poignant book with strong women whose love for their families is their biggest asset. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley #TheDustBowl 

Blogchatter Reading Challenge

Umm... Hi, 

So I'm participating in the #TBRChallenge by Blogchatter this year. This is a mandatory post announcing the same. 

Wish me luck, and good luck to all readers with toppling TBRs. 

PC: Pixabay/ Ylanite

Lost Graves by S.A. Dunphy - Book Review

Lost Graves by S.A. Dunphy

Boyle & Keneally Series- Book #2

Publication Date: 24th Jan 2022

Genre: Thriller; Irish 

4 Stars 

One Liner: A mix of various elements and interesting characters.  

*****

When Rufus, the pet dog of a Traveller father and son, digs up what looks like a burial site, it ends up opening the Pandora box of deaths and mysteries unsolved for years. 

Jessie Boyle and Seamus Keneally visit the village and learn that things are as dangerous as they can get. With no clues, DNA results, or any information to keep them going, Jessie knows it’ll be another almost-impossible case to tackle. 

The slightest of evidence takes them forward only to branch out into mysterious routes, and only one of them leads to the killer. The forest has safeguarded secrets for decades and has no intention of giving them up without a fight. Moreover, the Abhartach (a terror from the Irish legends) seems to have claimed the forests as his own. 

With ominous warnings from the local folk and pressure from the government, can Jessie get to the bottom of the case and stay alive? 

My Observations: 

• The book reads well as a standalone despite a few references to the past. 
• The pacing is steady. The story is neither wow nor bland. 
• The characters are cool and distinct. It’s easy to get into the flow and understand their voices. 
• Dawn Wilson is a kickass boss. I hope to see more of her in the coming books.
• Some of the Irish politics and military references went over my head. However, it didn’t stop me from getting the overall picture. 
• The character descriptions read like a police report. That was cheeky. ;) 
• Good balance between show and tell. 
• Enough action to keep readers interested. 
• No unexpected twists or ‘pull the rug’ moments. 

Side Note: 

The book discusses the legend of Abhartach, a short, dark, and terrifying man who is the earliest vampire in history. The legend claims that death didn’t stop Abhartach, no matter how many times he was killed. It took a Catholic Church priest to put Abhartach on an ash stake and prevent him from rising again. 

This caught my interest as I’ve been reading about colonization and conversion of heathens from pagan religions to Abrahamic religions. The legend fit right into the slot. Imagine a dead person who can be stopped only by a Christian priest. Somehow, none of the existing pagan rituals seem to help people. 

The book has interesting viewpoints about the legend, and one of them did get my attention. It equates the Abhartach with the Irish to show that no matter how much the Churches tried, the natives (and settlers) could rise and claim their heritage after being almost wiped out of existence. 

Since I actually felt sorry for the character equated with Abhartach, I do agree with the analysis. The pagans are rising again (in my country too, though we managed to retain our culture and heritage), and well, it’s time the world respected this. 

To sum up, Lost Graves is a steady thriller with a mix of various elements, from folklore to politics. It can be read as a standalone. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. A

#NetGalley #LostGraves